I had a neighbor tell me last week, “I have never voted against a school tax, but I am going to have to vote no this time.” I think that’s the conclusion many folks have come to for the special March 8 election. I certainly have.
“Outrageous,” you say. No, what is outrageous is what my neighbor said to me after he proclaimed his position. He said, “We have become the New Orleans school system.” Now that should make the hair on your neck stand up. Fact is, he is referring to the old New Orleans system characterized by poor performance, declining enrollment, resistance to change and a constant hunger for more money. New Orleans, as a whole, has been innovative about its school system since Katrina and drawn lots of attention. It still has issues and is struggling, but it has signs of new life and hope. Can you say the same for East Baton Rouge schools? This election is your opportunity to answer that question and speak out so the school board and the community can hear you loud and clear.
So why would folks oppose the school taxes?
It’s not because we think education isn’t important. It is very important. And many of us opposing the taxes have been involved in supporting education in many ways for many years.
It’s not because we aren’t concerned with the needs of children, particularly lower-income children. They are the ones who have been denied a choice and stuck in our failing system. More of the same provides them with no hope and no way out.
It’s not because we don’t appreciate teachers and the tough job they have. We have supported teachers and pay has increased—but are teachers and the classroom a priority for funds? Have the best teachers been rewarded and the worst removed?
It’s not because we aren’t patient enough. We have allowed time and supported previous taxes. We have watched for progress for years and passed millions in new taxes [property and sales taxes] and renewals. And what are the results we have to show for that commitment and investment?
Let’s look at some of the facts, trends and results:
• The student count for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in 2005-06 was 48,454. The 2007 count was 44,154. That’s a decrease of 8.9% of your student body [La. Dept. of Education Financial & Statistical Report, 157th edition, September 2007].
• In the 2005-06 year, the EBR system had expenses of about $425 million. That means a per-pupil expenditure of $8,521. That’s higher than every private school tuition in our parish except one. This does not count an additional $33.9 million in facilities acquisition and construction services [La. Dept. of Education Financial & Statistical Report, 157th edition, September 2007].
• As I pointed out, in the last two years, enrollment has declined by more than 5,500, and it is expected to decline next fall. But despite fewer students, the current BESE budget includes an increase of $10.7 million for EBR. That’s right, fewer students and more money from the state [La. Dept. of Education Financial & Statistical Report, 157th edition, September 2007]. Do you realize the EBR system had 67,000 students in 1979?
• In addition to the state windfall, have you have noticed around town the increases in number of businesses, new construction, population and economic strength? This all means more money in property and sales taxes for the school system.
• EBRPSS also has general fund surpluses. It has an “unreserved/undesignated fund” of $68.7 million; “unreserved/designated” of $49 million; and “reserve” of $9.3 million. That totals $127 million. I believe they are using $10 million in this year’s operating budget and propose taking $20 million to put into Proposition 1, which is school construction. It still leaves millions.
• As for results, the District Performance Scores for 2005-06 have the EBR district ranked 45th out of 59 districts. We received one star. The Zachary district ranked first with three stars. The West Feliciana district ranked second, the Livingston district fifth and the Ascension district ninth. State Superintendent Paul Pastorek explained to me that the five-star system equates to grades of A, B, C, D and F. In other words, the one star we got was the same as an F grade.
• The consequences of these results hit home hard last week when the state stepped in and took over four failing schools in EBR which had consistently scored “academically unacceptable.” So, our system with more money than ever, now has even fewer schools to manage.
I am told that next year the state could be faced with taking over 15 more schools in EBR. This would be 19 fewer schools to oversee. Unbelievable.
So, while the school system is pleading for you and me to keep sending them more money in the form of tax renewals, their scores remain at or near the bottom, their student population continues to decline, their state and local funding increases and the state is taking over running some of their schools. And they are sitting on an undesignated surplus of more than $78 million. Are they kidding us?
The ballot will have three propositions funded by renewal of a sales tax. While the tax was previously authorized for a five-year period, this time they are asking for a 10-year tax which would generate $870 million total. Proposition 1 funds construction and technology, Proposition 2 is for discipline and truancy and Proposition 3 maintains salaries of teachers and school workers.
The school board points out they have done well in the last 10 years and built seven new schools, with three more under construction. They have repaired 40 schools, spent millions on technology and created six new alternative schools. So with all these millions spent, these accomplishments, facilities and new assets, we still have an F system, we’re losing students and now the state is even taking our schools away.
And the school board is asking us to sign up for 10 more years and spend $870 million more. For what? More of the same?
This is exactly why a tax is set up for a limited duration: So you can decide if it generated the desired results and if you want to re-invest. I would conclude we got little return on our investment, and we need to look for something new to invest in. This system is broken down like a car with no engine. Why would you paint the body and hire a driver when it is going nowhere?
We need to quit prolonging this agony and bring this insanity to a halt. You keep paying and nothing changes. We need drastic measures to re-invent our system much like New Orleans has. Don’t feel guilty about voting no. You have paid taxes for years [and many paid tuition as well, choosing not to use the public schools.] The system should feel guilty for not delivering results, when they said if we gave them the money, they would. I have had enough and will send a vote of “no confidence” in the system by voting no on March 8. The children and our community deserve better.
Comments
Posted by BRBusinessOwner on February 26, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps the above problems could be better resolved with new leadership that is willing to address the issues of substandard educational performance by the EBR Parish School System as well as the lack of proper economic stewardship of that same System. Yet I do not hear hardly a word from the city/parish government that criticizes the performance of our school board. I hear little from concerned citizens as well as how they are going to reshape the EBR school board. In short, civic, business and government leaders need to act now and change the current School Board so that effective leadership can be allowed to correct the system. Voting no on the sales tax renewal should send a clear message that we will not reward a failing program.
Posted by GT on February 26, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. McCollister,
If our school system is so bad, then why are so many private school parents applying to get their children into the academic magnets, gifted programs, and other special programs in the system? I seen evidence of that every time I go to a function at my daughter's school, Baton Rouge High. Have you ever been to Baton Rouge High? Have you ever set foot in any public school in this parish? I doubt it. My daughter has attended both magnet and gifted schools. They have all been excellent. There is much good going on in our public schools, and much more is planned with new magnets and facilities coming on line. Maybe that's your problem. You do not want the system to succeed. Instead, you want to dwell on past problems and snuff out the possibility of any future successes.
Posted by Kermit on February 26, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is my understanding, from a teacher in EBP, that the administration is keeping a large chunk of the statewide pay raise.
Also, there are more administrators and service personnel on the payroll than there are teachers. This is a far cry from my days in school in the 60's and early 70's.
I am voting no!
Posted by Wendy on February 26, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Your reasons are a bit silly. Did you forget that Baton Rouge had a long-running deseg case? Did you forget that BR public school system has been broken for decades? The past few years have shown marked improvements. For the first time in our collective memory, this school system finally has the opportunity to be great, a goal that was wholly unattainable in the past. Give the school system a chance to finally implement the changes it so desparately needs. I'll vote yes. And in 10 years I'll analyze their accomplishments and decide if they deserve to have it renewed.
Posted by tonis on February 26, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My biggest complaint with this opinion is that I feel as if you are turning your back on the students of the EBRPSS. As long as Baton Rouge has economic development there will always be children who need an education. It is up to us, the citizens of EBRP, to root for the education system because it is a refection on us as a society. Don't give up on the schools or the children. Please vote YES on Saturday, March 8th! Let the students, teachers and support staff know that they have your support to educate future citizens of Baton Rouge.
Posted by Earbuds on February 26, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Baton Rouge is so desperately trying to attract this young, hip, cool crowd. They are trying to become a great city like Austin, Atlanta, Portland, all the rest. They are trying desperately to step up their game, but they forget some of the most important parts. This issue is a prime example of why Baton Rouge is losing young professionals.
I'm in my mid-twenties, a military brat, and chose Louisiana as home because of the food, culture, and people. But I will quickly move if I decide to have children because I can't imagine sending my child to Baton Rouge public schools.
Yes, the magnet schools are fantastic. Yes, Baton Rouge High has produced some of the city's, and the nation's, best and brightest, but there are so many other children that do not qualify for these schools. There are children that won't be able to go to the very few magnet programs that are available in East Baton Rouge Parish.
While your children are attending the magnet programs, have you stopped to spend some time with the children in any of the failing schools? I challenge you to spend a few afternoons at Glen Oaks Middle. Get to the kids, watch the teachers, and then tell me that our school system is improving.
Granted, this is one of those schools being taken over, but there's no excuse for this kind of environment.
And if you want a prime example of how our students aren't getting along well in the system as it is, take a look at Capitol Middle. Wonderful facilities, horrible failure rate.
Buildings don't teach children. Blanket pay raises don't reward teachers based upon merit. Discipline and truancy funding is only effective if there is an adequate plan in place or proposal in place about how to utilize the funds.
It's time to stop letting the School Board and the entire system off the hook.
The children of East Baton Rouge Parish deserve better. I hope you know that. I certainly know that, when I do have children, they will deserve better than what this city has to offer.
And if you're apathetic because your children go to private school, you're only allowing a system to propagate that does little to help students make it through high school, make it to college, or tech schools, and eventually become a productive member of society.
It's about more than getting them funding right now. It's about holding the School Board, the system, and ourselves responsible for an education system that is failing our students and, ultimately, our community.
Posted by shajosh on February 26, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see... school enrollment declined by roughly 4600 students from 2005-06 to 2007. Perhaps that was due to post-hurricane evacuees returning home, but I guess it didn't occur to you to find out why the decline.
Also if you had attended the myriad of EBRPSS workshops concerning the Tax renewal you would know that part of that decline is due to general out-migration from the parish. In other words, young families leaving the state. Didn't bother to publish the internals of the numbers though. And about those star ratings,,, you say EBRPSS's one star equates to an "F". Hmmm.. well the lauded Ascension and Livingston school districts only got 2 stars.. by your calculations a "D". Yet they all have La State Dept of Ed ratings in the 90's. Doesn't make much sense. And would you look at this,,, according to the 2006 LA Dept of Ed website, EBRPSS has a rating of 73.1, nothing to throw a party about,but certainly no failing grade. You also failed to give any suggestions, should this Renewal fail, as to what to do about the dire facilities needs of one of the best performing schools in the Southeast, Baton Rouge Magnet High? Just let it crumble away? You also failed to note that with the federal deseg order just ending in July of 2007, the district is expanding magnet, gifted and talented programs into schools in the booming Southeast part of the parish. There are waiting lists, by the way. And comparing private school tuitions to the $8,000 per public school student doesn't wash either. There is more than one private school with tuition costs higher than 8,000, not to mention that many families must contribute thousands of dollars more for fees, sports participation,transportation costs, tithing to Churches and capital improvements. Believe me, I have first hand experience.
All sarcasm aside, please let us not punish the many because a few (3 poverty stricken schools) have failed to succeed. Even if there are 11 more schools that are slated for state takeover (my guess is that these are in ravaged socio-economic areas as well)there are 75-80 schools that are on track for continued improvement. Very easy to see the glass half empty when that's all you want to see. I will vote "yes" and seek ways to help the public school system. I want to be an example of the change I wish to see.
Posted by interestedparty on February 26, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps you are comfortable letting the school system rot from the inside out as white flight pulls money and talent out of the system. Perhaps you don't mind taking the living wage away from the self sacrificing teachers who toil in an incredibly challenging profession with no support or encouragement. Personally, I don't know how you sleep at night.
Posted by Vengeanceismine on February 26, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Although the EBRPSS may be rotten from the core, penalizing teachers and defenseless students is not in the best interest of our society. Why not begin a dialog and legal effort for reconstituting the entire system? Many of the problems with the current system are the career school board administrators and employees who are intent on justifying and saving their jobs by running here and there willy-nilly, trying this, trying that, blustering here, blustering there, throwing money at this and that, anything to extend their retirement
Posted by jsanderssr on February 26, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm a product of public education and we were way too poor to even contemplate a parochial school. I am grateful and like the people the publisher cites, I've never voted against a school tax before. I will vote no on this one.
The system offers nothing but excuses and they're as old as they are invalid. I cannot even believe the commenter who said the system is "poised for greatness". Admittedly it has improved some. At the current rate of improvement, we can expect the overall system to approach basic reading and math levels in only 30 or 40 more years.
To the commenters who decry taking food from the mouths of teachers, how about the generations of poor children who have been condemned to everlasting poverty because of those teachers' incompetence? It's time for change and continuing to pour millions of dollars into a system that refuses to change is insanity. The impact on the children is reprehensible.
Posted by Langue on February 26, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sorry, but the generations of poor children who have been condemned to everlasting poverty are the result of an institutionalized racism which has bred a culture of despair spanning centuries. We are seeing the results. That, my friend, is reprehensible. Teachers are no more responsible than you for this. In addition, public education must respond to economic laws like every other human endeavor. Just think if EXXON had decided to only hire the cheapest engineers-the refinery would have blown up long ago. The truth is, there is a shortage of qualified teachers and people willing to enter the profession. You propose to make the situation worse? Best buy that armor plating you've been contemplating for your house.
Posted by nopars on February 26, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see: fewer students (10,000 fewer than 10 years ago); more spent per student than ever before; poor student performance (compare BR to other cities our size from around the country - we don't just compete against Monroe and Bunkie); high drop-out rate; multiple schools that have been failing for years and years; and a budget surplus (someone thinks CDs are a better investment than our current system). Who can defend this failing system and why bother? Maybe only those who are on their payroll or don't have to perform in their daily life!
Few will admit in public my next observation: Look what the failed New Orleans school system created during and after Katrina. People incapable of doing and thinking for themselves without government directions (which wasn't there). Excluding the elderly and infirm we had tens of thousands of NO public school alumni waiting for someone else to think and act. Oh sure they were poor - but why – it couldn’t be because they aren’t educated enough to get a decent paying job? I didn’t see any rocket scientists or brain surgeons standing around waiting for someone else to lead. NOs education system has been allowed for years to fail in preparing its citizens for their adult life. Is that the type of product BR public schools should be allowed to continue to put out in today's society? Only a well-educated public, which comes from a responsive, competitive education system, can save us from disasters like Katrina and our government bureaucracy.
Posted by nopars on February 26, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
P.S. I guess you can tell how I will vote.
Posted by jsanderssr on February 26, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Langue,
The racism angle is just another of the tired excuses. Sure it was there. Can't blame it on that any more. Find another excuse.
Posted by MightyFavog on February 26, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One thing about my hometown, it never, EVER tires of cutting off its nose to spite its face.
http://revolution-21.blogspot.com/2008/0...
Posted by GT on February 27, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
An article appears in today's Advocate with the headline, Two EBR magnets win national honor. The schools are Westdale Heights Academic Magnet and Baton Rouge High. Go to http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/1601367....
I want to see more of this kind of news. Are you reading, Rolfe? Is this the agony and insanity you speak of? If so, whose position is insane?
Posted by br on February 27, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While I share a lot of the frustration many of you have with the school system, I don't believe that voting down this tax will help solve the problem. Mr. McCollister wants to send a message to the school system, I say he needs to find a way to send that message that doesn't hamper what progress has been made. He talks about accountability, but offers no plan for how to do this in a fair way that doesn't penalize a teacher for the myriad other things that can impact student performance that they don't have control over. If we want the school system to turn around, we should find constructive means of improving it and doing what must be done, as a community, to make that change come to life, not lament the position we're in, complain about how we want things to change, and then proceed to make change as difficult as possible. By voting down this tax, you allow further decay of school facilities, take money away from the teachers you claim to be so concerned about, and leave them with fewer resources to capitalize on what strides they have made. There needs to be a more comprehensive solution to this problem that takes into account factors inside and outside of the schools themselves that affect performance and works to remedy them community wide. Taking the money away with no plan for how to fix things and hoping the problem fixes itself doesn't sound like progress, it sounds like business as usual.
Posted by sunshine on February 27, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All due respect to Mr. McCollister, but I usually take whatever he says and divide by four. That gets me a lot closer to the truth of the situation and helps me make a rational decision. Unfortunately, this time, I need to divide something more like 10 to help folks understand his rather flawed logic.
First off, what was the percentage of children living in poverty in 1979 in EBRSS? Having been the ripe old age of 2 at that time, I don't have those figures handy, but I'd be willing to bet my milk money that it wasn't anything close to the 80% we have in poverty now. Any medical scientist will tell you, children born to impoverished homes have nutritional deficiencies that lead to cognitive impairment from an early age. Children from non-poverty households show up in Kindergarten knowing how to read and with enormous vocabularies of words because they are surrounded by educated adults who interact with them. Poverty children show up with about a quarter as many words and most not knowing how to read. When all those non-poverty kids pull out of the system, the remnant is a hard-to-teach group of kids with developmental disorders, behavioral problems and an external environment that makes COPS look like a cartoon.
And if you don’t believe that’s true, then look at parishes with a low percentage of private schools, like Cameron, they have high test scores across the board. Kids need advanced peers to help pull them along, one teacher can’t do it all by themselves. We’ve removed the bulk of advanced peers and put them in elite private schools. And if you think vouchers will solve this problem, they only make the private schools more affordable for the wealthy, they don’t actually open up spots for these troubled kids, which believe me, the private schools don’t want to be bothered with.
But if that’s not reason enough to support this tax, I’ll take Mr. McCollister’s own figure that it takes $8K to teach a kid per year in EBRSS. We’ll spend more than 7 times that each year building a prison cell to house that troubled kid who doesn’t get alternative schooling, gets bored on the streets and turns to a life of crime or the impoverished kid who is smart, but sees selling drugs as the fast ticket out of the bad neighborhood. You can pay 1 penny now or 7 later when you put them behind bars after they’ve burglarized your home. It’s simple economics... it’s a lot easier to start a kid on the right path than to try to correct them later. I agree our school system has problems, but we don’t fix them by punitively taking away our resources.
Posted by saywhat on February 27, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a product of the EBRP system. Because my parents believed in the public schools, I was forced to endure the hardship of surviving in an environment of chaos. I spent two years at Valley Park Jr High. Our days consisted of reading newspapers and trying not to get accosted by the rest of the student body. It was the most horrible "educational" experience of my life. We could not learn anything due to the constant interruptions of the thugs that ruled the school. High school was not much different. This is the reason that I have had to spend over $114000.00 on tuition for my two children. It has not been easy for my family to afford the cost but we have made it work. I cannot imagine them in the hell that I had to endure. Unless vouchers are put in place, I will always vote NO for any tax increase or renewal for EBRP schools.
Posted by Andrea on February 28, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. McCollister,
You have always hated public schools. You never have anything good to say. You have always been very negative about public schools. I don't know why. I don't know if you had a bad experience. It's almost as if you have a personal vendetta. I don't even know your background. Are you from Baton Rouge? Did you go to public schools?
I am a teacher in this system. This is my 16th year. This system has shown improvements in the past few years. There are several schools that have improved their test scores, which, by the way, here's a news flash: TEST SCORES ARE NOT ALWAYS A GOOD INDICATOR OF A SCHOOL'S SUCCESS. Believe me, the improvements we have made have NOT been easy. We don't have the "privilege" of getting to choose our raw materials. If you run a business, you get to choose the best and the brightest people with which to surround yourselves. You get to choose from which suppliers and vendors you will purchase your raw materials to make/create/perform your products/services. If an employee is failing to do his/her job at a high enough standard, you get the luxury of firing him/her. We don't get that luxury. We have students that come to us with varying negative backgrounds, poverty, no adult supervision, no structure, exposure to violence, etc. over which we have NO control. We have students that come to us from homes where they are taught that the teacher is always wrong and "out-to-get-you." Sometimes, when I discipline a student in class for negative behavior, that student tells me "I'm going to tell my mom. She's going to come here and get you."
Yet, despite this, we work as hard as we can. We go above and beyond the call of duty. Even when we have NO support from administrators, and sadly sometimes no support from parents, we make strides to take kids from nothing to something.
I like my job. I like what I do. I love to teach and talk to the kids and see them learn and grow. I like to hear them laugh. I live for that rare moment when a kid tells me "thank you."
So, if you have a problem with the way the school system runs, then get involved. Work to make changes. Go into the schools and observe. Volunteer. Maybe you could offer your advice on something (since you obviously know so much about education). But, PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT take it out on us. Do not take it out on the kids. Do not take it out on the hard-working, dedicated teachers.
And, finally, if this renewal does not pass, my annual salary will drop by exactly $5218.00. How would you like to suddenly lose $5218.00 of your salary just because people don't like the school system for which you work. If I lose that salary, I won't be able to afford the house that I worked so hard, took a part time job, and struggled to be able to buy five years ago. I guess I will have to move back in with mom and dad.
Please, citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish, please renew the tax.
Thank you.
Posted by Plumber on February 29, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought Mr. McCollister's column was pretty convincing, but then some of the comments won me over to the other side, particularly the one by Andrea. Statistics can be used to support almost any position, but for me the voices of people with direct experience in the schools carry the most weight.
I will vote for the tax renewal. My job involves assisting people who lost their homes as a result of Katrina and Rita, and I see every day the result of decades--centuries, really--of low quality public education.
Posted by Buteos on March 1, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Many of the problems with the school system, aside from the obvious (poverty, broken homes, etc.) are perpetuated by career administrators and supervisors of the good ole boy/girl club (comprised of an inordinate amount of coaches)and whose interest is mostly in preserving their positions and their power. For example, the arts supervisor in the EBR school system is a former elementary PE coach with no arts experience, either in education or professionally, who runs the art and music programs like his private fiefdom which may result in somewhat less than inspired vision and leadership...This is replicated throughout the system but is Louisiana tradition
Posted by Andrea on March 3, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you so much for you support, Plumber! Also, I completely agree with Buteos about "career administrators." And, I am aware of the arts supervisor you are speaking of. I experience a similar situation because I teach foreign languages. Most of the time, we don't even have a supervisor. And, when we do have one, that person just gets ""dumped" with supervising foreign languages also in addition to his/her other responsibilities. In my 16 years of teaching, last year was the first time our supervisor even contacted us and arranged professional development and meetings specifically for foreign language teachers. We have the same supervisor this year, and she is doing a good job.
In addition: I taught at a high school in this parish for one year a few years back. One year was all I could handle due to the complete incompetence of that principal. (I was begging for a transfer all year long) That principal's main concern was football. He was oblivious to any and all discipline problems at the school. His whole philosophy was "if I don't see it happen, it's not happening." And, as long as the football team was sucessful and his head coach was happy and had his day free to watch videos of football games, everything was just fine and dandy! That principal is now a higher-ranking supervisor in the parish.
And, I have to say, I have NO idea what the solution could be for this problem. I really don't know. I would like to see ALL employees actually accountable for their jobs and their responsibilities. I wish there was a way to get rid of "career administrators and supervisors" who really don't do much. But, I just don't know......
Sometimes I think that if they let the actual classroom teachers run the show, if we could be in charge, if we could do whatever we needed to do to get the job done.....this would be a great system!!!
Thank you!
Posted by htrdtd on March 4, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As the husband of a publc school teacher and father of a magnet student, I am disgusted at our unwillingness to correctly identify the public school system problem. That problem is societal and deeply embeded in the minds of some. The problem is shielded under the flag of racism, that protects it from ever being indentified and properly discussed. My child thrives in the magnet program as do his school mates of all ethnic backgrounds with the HELP of there teachers.
My wife is dedicated to the public system and goes way beyond her responsibilities as an educator. She does this simply because being an educator is her passion, and she truly believes she can make a difference. While her intelligence, energy and drive would be much better suited on a administative level, she feels she is needed in the classroom. She recognizes the ineffectiveness of the school board, and Placide administration but continues to educate for our children. That is dedication!
When PARENTS decide to teach thier children values and respect for others and instill in them the belief that they can better themselves through effort and determination. When PARENTS decide to stop depending on the government for a handout and then blameing that same hand for thier situation. When PARENTS decide to teach children that an education is the way to success and force a change in AATTITUDE. When this occours we will see a public school system that is quality.
Posted by CTNDC on March 4, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While Mr. McCollister has written the editorial and included many numbers and facts, let’s take a closer look at some of the issues he raises.
He urges voters to vote “no” because of the decline in enrollment in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System over the last 3 years. He fails to take into account two important events.
During the 2005 – 2006 school year, the student count for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) was 48,454 students. This includes all of the students that were taken in by the school system in the aftermath of the Hurricanes. The school system enrolled over 6,000 students in the months following the hurricanes. More than 4,000 students have returned to New Orleans.
He also states that the 2007 school population was 44,154. During the 2006 – 2007 school year, Central was still a part of the EBRPSS. After losing close to 4,000 students when Central formed its own school system, the current daily student attendance for the EBRPSS system is 45,000 students. So rather than a decrease, the EBRPSS has actually increased enrollment over the last year by over 1,000 students, with steady growth expected over the next ten years. 252 of the newly enrolled are students from private and parochial school who have returned to the public school system.
The Editor also reaches back almost 30 years in time to 1979 to point out that the numbers of students attending public schools has declined. This was before forced cross- town bussing was implemented causing “White Flight”.
In talking about per-pupil expenditure, he fails to mention that the tuition cost for private and parochial schools are but the tip of the iceberg. You also have to factor in the cost of uniforms, lunches, transportation, extra-curricular activities, lab costs, etc. And if a stadium or classrooms need to be added, you can expect that the cost of that capital improvement will be shared by parents.
The editor also writes about the increase in business, new construction, population, and economic strength. With all these increases also comes the increase by almost 30% in the cost of construction materials and the added cost of labor.
The school system spent some of it’s reserves already on teacher pay increase at the end of 2007. In addition, the school system plans to use $20 million of the current surplus for proposition one. The school system will still have an estimated 10% operating surplus, which is what the State Department of Education suggests of any economically sound school system.
While the State Department of Education announced that it will temporarily take control of 4 schools within the school system, the school system will still be responsible for the daily upkeep of those schools. So actually the school system does not have fewer schools to manage.
I expect the editor knows the meaning behind the numbers, but rather than explain them, he uses them to fit his views of the school system’s situation.
Posted by GFab on March 5, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just took the opportunity from an extremely busy schedule to read your article, and half of the comments, before I became thoroughly disgusted. It seems that most of the residents of EBRP fail to recognize that at least THREE COMMUNITIES have recognized the failures of the EBRP School Board and have chosen to remove themselves from the EBRP School System. Let me remind them – Baker, Zachary, and Central. It’s also been rumoredthat there is another “section” of the Parish that is looking into “removing themselves” from the EBRP School System because the same failures.
Financially, the EBRP School System manages its monies poorly or they horde it. So why do they keep asking for more? Why do the citizens of EBRP not look into the financial reports of the EBRP School Board? Although your figures state that there is approximately $78 Million in surplus, I have seen that the figure was actually much higher.
The declination in enrollment may be somewhat affected by Katrina evacuees returning, but not entirely. Families leaving the Parish, not necessarily out of the State as suggested by another commentator, are another factor. Most of the young families I have spoken with, including my own son who has two sons of his own, do not want to move but move for the sake of their children’s education. Yet another item affecting the declination is the separation of communities who have recognized the failure of the EBRP School System. See the THREE COMMUNITIES above.
I have two sons, both of who went through the public school system here in Baton Rouge. The only reason why I kept them there was because they both fell under the “Special Education” criteria – one was dyslexic and ADHD and the other was gifted – and received the education every child desires because of their special designations. Average students fall through the cracks in EBRP and it is time we hold the EBRP School Board accountable for their failures.
Until the EBRP School System corrects its mistakes either by the citizens of EBRP replacing the School Board Members with ones that will actually work toward improving the system, we are doomed to fail. Ask yourselves this, if you were the head of a corporation and the corporation was run similar to the EBRP School System, would it succeed? I have no doubt that it will not, at least not under its current administration. I plan to vote AGAINST the tax propositions this weekend. Our elected officials, and I mean the EBRP School Board, need to be held accountable for the monies they already spend and/or have in their possession. When the system improves, then maybe I will begin wanting to vote for their tax propositions.
Posted by 4ourfuture on March 7, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Trying to make changes in our public school system is like trying to make major repairs on an airplane while it's flying. Even a minor mistake could have devastating effects—not just for the crew and passengers, but also for those on the ground below.
This Saturday, voters will consider three school tax renewals. On its website, the school system explains how revenues will be used if measures pass, but what happens if they fail?
1. Failure of the school tax renewals will cause the school system to lose its greatest asset: teachers. If your employer asked you to take a 20% pay cut, but do the same job you’ve been doing for five years, would you? Experienced, award-winning teachers and principals face this question if the compensation proposition fails. New recruits are watching.
2. Failure of the renewals will push back progress made in the last five years. Of the 32 schools where at least nine out of ten kids live in poverty, roughly half of those schools demonstrated academic growth. 23 schools—that’s over 1/3 of our schools—have student populations that are 95% in poverty. In people-terms, that’s 10 out of 10 students living in poverty. Imagine cutting resources to these children.
3. Failure of the renewals will damage our community’s reputation. Louisianans elected a reform governor and up-ended politics-as-usual with unprecedented ethics reform. Now, we’re at another critical crossroads. If we defeat school tax renewals, we say to those knowledge workers, entrepreneurs, and world class academicians we’re trying to attract to our community, “We support public education, we just don’t fund it.”
4. Failure of the renewals will undercut progress toward real racial, social, and economic diversity in our community. White, middle class families abandoned public schools during the last several decades, resulting in an almost single race public school system. In the last three years, however, this demographic is showing interest in EBR’s academic magnet schools—racially diverse schools created as part of the consent decree that ended court-ordered desegregation. Tours, applications, and long waiting lists at these national award-winning schools signal renewed confidence and an appreciation for the value of diversity. This is a watershed for our community.
Our public school system is a critical part of our community. There are no simple answers. There are no quick fixes. We are seeing progress. If we want that progress to continue, we cannot expect teachers and principals to do more WITH less. Nor should we expect them to do more FOR less.
This Saturday, I hope that you will join me supporting the three school tax renewals. They will be instrumental in helping our kids, our schools, and our community achieve great things.
Posted by wn1183 on March 7, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see...social promotion, teacher pay raises that have NOTHING to do with merit, 'fixing' the LEAP so that more students pass, fighting the Central school district for tax monies earmarked for building new schools in that district? I don't think they'll get any more of my hard-earned dollars. I think they should take that $75 million surplus and buy themselves a clue.
Posted by susand on March 7, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a native New Orleanian living in BR for 17 years and yes, the BR school system is resembling the old NO system more and more. We have a few excellent schools, many mediocre schools, and some pitiful schools. Charlotte Placide did not want the job when it was offered to her initially and I was perplexed as to why people would try to force someone to take a job (especially one so vital to a community) they did not want or feel they were prepared to do. I will be voting against the tax!
Posted by 4ourfuture on March 7, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Two clues to what ELSE is going on in the EBR school system. This happened in February...
RYAN ELEMENATARY, one of only 20 schools statewide, was declared a MODEL SCHOOL by the State Department of Education (LA DoE). Ryan was recognized by educational leaders from DoE and BESE for its ability to help guide a school performance score of 80+ while overcoming challenges, such as the high number of students that qualify for free or reduced cost lunches. Ryan principal Darlene Brister gives credit to the school's team effort. Some might also point to the school's determination to succeed, clearly expressed in their school motto: “every child, whatever it takes.”
WESTDALE HEIGHTS ACADEMIC MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (WHAM) , one of only 22 schools nationally, was named a School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America. WHAM, established as an academic magnet in 2004, is THE ONLY SCHOOL IN LOUISIANA recognized at this level. WHAM has been recognized as a "School of Exemplary Growth" for its consistent increases in its students’ performance on LEAP and iLEAP tests. It currently holds a four star rating, out of five, in the state accountability rankings. Principal Cheryl Singer says the mission of the school is to educate the WHOLE child by providing a learning environment that encourages the development of "critical thinking, social skills, citizenship and responsibility to others, health, the arts, and preparation for future education and tomorrow’s workforce."
Yes, there are failed schools, but please don't ignore the development of highly honored and award-winning schools, too -- schools that hold statewide significance and capture national recognition.
Posted by Matsai6 on March 9, 2008 at midnight (Suggest removal)
Why is everyone so blind ? Is it simple ignorance or willfull obfuscation? The REAL problem in these situations across the country is the same. The people in communities like Baton Rouge who have the money to use private schools are also the people in power or are the friends and family of the same. For reasons well known, starting about mid-century, they have continuously placed their children in private schools and have had no incentive to be personally involved in fixing the system. Public schools have, as a result, largely deteriorated into a guilty conscience handout that these civic leaders would rather see pass on. As we learned as a nation with public housing developments, when you warehouse the poor and cut their children off from the influence of the successful, you end up with a downward spiral of despair. The kind of "reform" that white flight leaders really want is the one where vouchers supported by your taxes get everyone into their religious schools. I support the alternative. The only way to fix public schools is to GET RID OF THE PRIVATE ONES!! When daddy senator and mommy oil wife have to send their kids to public schools you'd better believe it would all run more smoothly. Don't hold your breath for that to happen as they would never be able to live with their golden boys and girls going to school with black children or being taught (gasp!) about safe sex. Its the culture war stupid. Public schools work far better in liberal states.
Posted by kgs on March 9, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sure the school system is thanking, Rolfe “Big fish in a little pond” McCollister. It seems that every time he comes out against the school system, only good things come of it. Keep it up Rolfie boy!
Returns for the EBR school system one cent tax renewals show all three passed by about a 2-1 margin.
With 277 of 277 precincts reporting the tally is:
Proposition No. 1: 29,090 64% YES; 16,083 36% NO
Proposition No. 2: 27,938 62% YES; 16,886 38% NO
Proposition No. 3: 28,832 64% YES; 16,079 36% NO
I am sure the school system also needs to thank BESE member, Chas “Fortunate Son” Roemer. His “fair and balanced” editorial surely did not cross some sort of ethical line, now did it? Only in Louisiana would the sibling of the Director of the association that represents State Charter Schools be allowed to write what was basically an advertisement for the charter schools.
EBR should also thank citizens like “Informed”, the person who is in the school system 50+ hours a week. I guess between helping all the students, you didn’t have enough time to “Educate” as many teachers as you think you did. Exactly how many did you say you spoke with again who would vote against the renewal?
And finally, Fred “ole crazy” Dent. He did more for the passage than anyone. While he has no following, what-so-ever, each time he spoke on the subject he was so misinformed that I am sure it caused hundreds to for in favor of the tax. Do people still actually listen to this guy?
In the end, the renewal was successful because all of you who urged the public to vote against it never offered a glimpse into what would happen, or what you would do, if it failed.
Have a nice day!
Posted by Wendy on March 10, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats Baton Rouge! I am grateful that we passed the school tax. Quality public schools are essential to the fabric of our community, and without funding, there is no hope that our public schools can improve.
This city's public school system needs involved, educated parents to make this a great city. My child goes to a good EBR public school. I can afford a top private school if I wanted to, but I don't want to send my child there. My child needs the experience of public school, and the public school system needs us.
Of course, there is so much work to be done. Let's work together as a community to make this a great school system. For all you naysayers out there, this can be done. If you don't believe the current administration can get it done, then you need to get involved yourself. Wherever your child goes to school, please get involved in the public schools. It's vital that we as a community support this city's children. Stop living in the past. Make a difference for the future.
Posted by Andrea on March 12, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, East Baton Rouge Parish.
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